I hope this hasn't been addressed already, but does anyone know any details on the HV20's aperture control?

The manual says:
Set the aperture value. The camcorder automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed. Use low aperture values (larger lens opening) to softly blur the background in a portrait or high aperture values (smaller lens opening) to get a wider depth of field, giving a sharp focus all throughout a landscape.

Since this camera borrows many aspects from Canon's still cameras, I wonder how this camcorder aperture works in video.

My assumption is the "exposure" is essentially the ISO change. So there's exposure, shutter speed, and aperture that can all make a difference.

I guess what I am getting to is, I wonder how much you could control the depth of field with the camera's aperture.

I don't know if this would replace the use of a 35mm adapter. The effect would still be different, but that opens up JUST as much opportunity to control depth-of-field as hearing there was a cheap 24p 1080 HDV camera.

Any thoughts?

My assumption is the "exposure" is essentially the ISO change.

I believe the exposure dial controls the aperture while in TV mode and the shutter while in AV mode. The problem is you don't know exactly what speed or opening the exposure dial is actually giving you (plus either the ND's or gain may both kick in given the starting exposure level). If you research the threads on this forum there have been some tips as to how HV10 should react when using manually controls.

That being said I've had decent results shooting in TV mode, using the exposure dial and the zebras.

Hi Jeff,

additionally: ISO setting on Canon's still cams (and I guess on other brands also) is pure gain: multiplying the sampled signal to artificially lighten up the picture. As Rich points out, 'exposure' (in camcorders as well as in still cams) is a mix of things.

Second: although max aperture indeed gives you minimal DOF, it will be nowhere near the dramatic effect of a 35mm adaptor. For my home use though, it is sufficient. Plus, remember that for DOF recordings, such as portraits, it also helps to use max zoom.

Pieter

I believe the exposure dial controls the aperture while in TV mode and the shutter while in AV mode.

That being said I've had decent results shooting in TV mode, using the exposure dial and the zebras.

It's actually the other way around. TV (Time Value) mode is Shutter Priority & the AV (Aperture Value) mode is the Aperture Priority.

Bill

Wasn't that what he said? While in Tv mode, the only way to control aparture is with the exposure dial. And the only way to control the shutter in Av mode is by using the same dial. If you didn't, the aparture would be on auto when in Tv mode and the shutter would be on auto when in Av mode.

It's actually the other way around. TV (Time Value) mode is Shutter Priority & the AV (Aperture Value) mode is the Aperture Priority.

Bill

No it isn't, shutter is locked in TV mode and exposure dial controls aperture.

Aperture is locked in AV mode and exposure dial controls shutter.

What I'm not sure anyone has figured out is exactly when gain kicks in in low light situations and where the ND's engage on the other end.

What are you arguing about? You are both right. :)
Shutter Priority (Tv) means that the shutter is locked and the aparture is on auto.
Aparture Priority (Av) means that the aparture is locked and the shutter is on auto.
The dial can be used to lock the aparture in Shutter Priority (Tv) mode or to lock the shutter speed in Aparture Priority (Av) mode.

Has any HV10 owner out there done some tests to determine where the gain kicks in? I suppose it would be the same on the HV20.

I'm crackin' up! I wasn't arguing. It was late & I was tired, & I'm not going to attempt to go back & re-read again because I just woke up a bit ago :D

Bill

great to know there are Av and Tv mode however my problem with some cameras are despite the fact in Av or Tv mode the camera will still have the Gain on auto. My worry is even in Av or Tv mode under dark conditions will the HV20 increase the gain say +18db automatically? or i can actually have the Gain on Manual too?

ys

There was a thread earlier in this forum where someone posted the settings for an Optura, when the gain started etc and how to set initial exposure lock and then avoid gain. The thought was the same might work for the HV10. Hopefully someone will figure it out.

But I wonder, is it even safe to say that the EXP dial controls the aparture in Tv mode or shutter in Av mode? How do we know it just doesn't add or subtract gain when you use that dial?

How does that work on the HV10? You should be able to tell by setting the camera in Tv mode, zooming in all the way, keeping the background out of focus and then see if the background gets sharper when you dial the EXP dial down (or more blurry when you dial it up). If it does that it means it adjusts the aparture and it's all good.
Or you could set the camera in Av mode and do a pan while you dial the EXP dial up and down. If the motion looks more stroby when you dial it up (or down, I don't know) then it means it adjusts the shutter speed and it's all good.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?p=622330#post622330

Can I set aperture and shutter speed manually at the same time on HV20?
I keep reading about TV and the (almost pointless) AV mode but does the the HV20 have a real manual exposure control also known as "M" the manual mode.
If not it will not be as usable with DOF adaptors as many would think.

Thanks in advance,
T

Can I set aperture and shutter speed manually at the same time on HV20?Toenis, the post directly above yours, from Mathieu Kassovitz, has a link to a thread which answers your question in detail. The short answer is yes. The longer answer is in that thread. Hope this helps,